--RHP Joe Nathan pitched the ninth inning of Wednesday's victory over Chicago for his ninth save of the season, continuing the best start of his bullpen career. Nathan, who signed a four-year contract in March, allowed only one run in April, and it came in a non-save situation. He converted all nine of his opportunities, the most he has ever had in the season's first month.
--CF Carlos Gomez bunted for a hit Wednesday, which is becoming increasingly common. Gomez has beaten out a bunt nine times this season, putting him on track to eclipse the franchise record of 29 set by Rod Carew in 1974. Gomez's pace also threatens the major league record of 42 set by Brett Butler with the Dodgers in 1992. --LHP Dennys Reyes struck out Jim Thome on four pitches Wednesday, extending his scoreless streak to 12 appearances without allowing a run this season. Reyes has allowed only one of the 11 runners he has inherited to score.
--RHP Pat Neshek believes his arm strength is increasing as the season goes along. When Neshek threw a slider Wednesday, he checked the pitch-speed board. "It had ... 85, 86 mph, and usually this year it's been 81 or 82," the side-arm setup man said. "So if I could get that going again, I would bet I'm going to get a lot more strikeouts."
--LF Delmon Young hit a home run in his major league debut and has always been regarded as a power hitter, so his failure to hit a home run in 27 games with the Twins has gained some attention in Minnesota. But Young's drought -- now 33 games counting his final six games with Tampa Bay in 2007 -- is actually far from his longest. Young didn't hit a homer between June 23 and Aug. 26, 2007, a span of 60 games and 229 at-bats.
BY THE NUMBERS: 12 -- Consecutive starts allowing three or fewer runs by RHP Scott Baker, a streak broken when Texas scored five runs against Baker on April 26.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't know how you explain it. I have no idea. And I really don't even want to think about how. I just like the fact that the ball seems to find holes when I face him." -- DH Craig Monroe, who collected three hits off Oakland RHP Joe Blanton on April 22, giving him a .714 career average (10-for-14) against Blanton.
